Salvia plant named ‘Autumn Moon’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Salvia  plant of unknown parentage is provided that was discovered in a nursery setting while growing among other  Salvia  plants. Over a long blooming season in abundance attractive bicolored blossoms are formed having pale pink and yellow coloration. The growth habit is compact and bushy. Attractive large bright green leaves are formed. Following pruning, the plant displays a tendency to vigorously regrow. The plant is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation.

Botanical/commercial classification: Salvia hybrida/Salvia Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Autumn Moon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Salvia cultivar of the present invention was discovered whilegrowing in a plant nursery setting among other Salvia plants atWatsonville, Calif., U.S.A. The new cultivar is of unknown parentage andlikely includes Salvia microphylla in its ancestry. The new plant wasdistinguished from other Salvia plants growing in the nursery where itwas discovered primarily through a study of its distinctive bicoloredblossoms having a pale pink and yellow coloration combined with otherattractive botanical characteristics identified hereafter. Had thesingle plant of the present invention not been discovered and carefullypreserved, it would have been lost to mankind.

The plant is a perennial that can be grown to advantage withoutprotection in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 7 to 11.

It was found that the new Salvia variety possesses the followingcombination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) displays a compact and bushy growth habit,    -   (b) forms in abundance over a long blooming season attractive        bicolored blossoms having a pale pink and yellow coloration,    -   (c) displays vigorous large bright green leaves,    -   (d) displays a tendency to vigorously regrow following pruning,        and    -   (e) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation.

The new cultivar of the present invention can be readily distinguishedfrom other Salvia cultivars, such as the ‘Hot Lips’ cultivar(non-patented in the United States). More specifically, the ‘Hot Lips’cultivar displays dissimilar cherry red and white blossoms.

The new cultivar well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andcan be grown to advantage as attractive ornamentation in parks, gardens,public areas, and residential landscapes.

The new cultivar has been asexually reproduced by the rooting ofcuttings for several generations. Such asexual reproduction as performedat Watsonville, Calif., U.S.A., and near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A., hasdemonstrated that the characteristics of the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and stable and are strictly transmissible from one generation toanother. Accordingly, the new cultivar asexually reproduces in atrue-to-type manner from one generation to another.

The new cultivar has been named ‘Autumn Moon’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show the new variety as nearly true as itis reasonably possible to make the same, in color illustrations of thischaracter. The photographs were obtained on Apr. 17, 2012 near WestGrove, Pa., U.S.A., and illustrate a typical container grown plant andplant parts of the new variety.

FIG. 1 illustrates the overall compact growth habit of a flowering plantof the new variety.

FIG. 2 illustrates a closer view of the bright green foliage and thebicolored pale pink and yellow blossoms of the new variety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart) of London, England (1995).Color terminology in common terms sometimes is included as an aid to thereader. Such color terminology is to be accorded its customarydictionary significance. The description is based on the observation oftypical specimens of the new variety at an age of approximately one yearduring April 2012 while growing indoors in containers under naturallight near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—Bushy, vigorous, and compact.        -   Height.—Commonly up to approximately 49 cm on average.        -   Width.—Commonly approximately 53 cm on average.        -   Growth habit.—Perennial in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 7 to            11.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf configuration.—Elliptic to oblong.        -   Leaf length.—Commonly approximately 2 cm on average.        -   Leaf width.—Commonly approximately 1.1 cm on average.        -   Leaf margin.—Repand.        -   Leaf texture.—Commonly slightly fleshy.        -   Leaf blade color.—Green Group 137A on the upper surface, and            Green Group 137C on the under surface.        -   Leaf blade apex.—Acute to obtusely rounded.        -   Leaf blade base.—Mainly obtuse.        -   Scent.—Leaves commonly display a tangy fruity scent when            crushed.        -   Petiole shape.—Somewhat flattened.        -   Petiole length.—Variable and commonly approximately 5 mm.        -   Petiole width.—Commonly approximately 1 mm.        -   Petiole color.—Green Group 141A.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Time.—Prolonged blooming period beginning in May and            extending through September near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.        -   Type.—Terminal raceme.        -   Diameter.—Commonly approximately 5 cm on average.        -   Length.—Commonly approximately 11 cm on average.        -   Number.—Commonly up to approximately 125 flowers per plant            on average in bloom at a given time.        -   Configuration.—Tubular, and two-lipped.        -   Pedicel length.—Commonly approximately 4 mm on average.        -   Pedicel width.—Commonly approximately 1 mm on average.        -   Pedicel color.—Green, Green Group 143D.        -   Pedicel pubescence.—None observed.        -   Calyx shape.—Broadly campanulate and flared towards the            apex.        -   Calyx rib number.—Commonly 14 and longitudinally disposed.        -   Calyx length.—Commonly approximately 12 mm on average.        -   Calyx width.—Commonly up to 8 mm.        -   Calyx texture.—Glandular and puberulent on the upper and            under surfaces.        -   Calyx color.—On the upper lobe Green Group 143B overlaid            with Black Group 202A, and on the lower lobes Green Group            143D overlaid with Black Group 202A.        -   Calyx lobe number.—3.        -   Calyx upper lobe number.—1.        -   Calyx upper lobe shape.—Acute.        -   Calyx upper lobe length.—Commonly approximately 12 mm on            average.        -   Calyx upper lobe width.—Commonly approximately 5 mm in            width.        -   Calyx lower lobe number.—2.        -   Calyx lower lobe shape.—Acute.        -   Calyx lower lobe length.—Commonly approximately 11 mm on            average.        -   Calyx lower lobe width.—Commonly approximately 6 mm on            average.        -   Corolla shape.—Tubular proximally to two-lipped distally.        -   Corolla length.—Commonly approximately 1.1 cm on average.        -   Corolla color.—The base commonly is near White Group 155A,            the tube is near Greyed-Purple Group 186B, and the lower lip            is near Yellow Group 11C overlaid with Red Group 54C towards            the opening of the corolla tube.        -   Corolla tube length.—Approximately 2 cm on average.        -   Corolla tube depth.—Approximately 7 mm on average.        -   Corolla tube lip number.—3.        -   Corolla upper lip number.—1.        -   Corolla upper lip shape.—Hood-like.        -   Corolla upper lip length.—Commonly approximately 10 mm            average.        -   Corolla lower lip length.—2, suborbicular.        -   Corolla lower lip shape.—Banner-like, and extended downward.        -   Corolla lower lip outline.—Obovate.        -   Corolla lower lip length.—Commonly approximately 15 mm on            average.        -   Corolla lower lip diameter at tip.—Approximately 2 cm on            average.        -   Style length.—Approximately 2 cm on average.        -   Style width.—Commonly less than 1 mm on average.        -   Style attachment site.—At four-lobed ovary between lobes.        -   Ovary.—Approximately 2 mm in length, approximately 1.5 mm in            diameter, and near Yellow-Green Group 145B in coloration.        -   Stamen number.—1.        -   Stamen shape.—Seesaw-like.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 8 mm on average.        -   Connective length.—Approximately 4 mm on average.        -   Anther length.—Approximately 2 mm on average.        -   Anther diameter.—Less than 1 mm on average.        -   Anther color.—Greyed-Yellow Group 162A.        -   Anther attachment site.—At outer end of the connective.        -   Pollen.—Abundant.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Vigorous and displays a tendency to quickly            regrow following pruning.        -   Blooming.—Displays long blooming season.        -   Fertility.—Not observed with the plants being sterile during            observations to date.        -   Winter hardiness.—The plant is a perennial that can be grown            in at least U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 7 to 11.        -   Disease resistance.—No particular sensitivity to disease has            been encountered during observations to date.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Salvia plant characterized by thefollowing combination of characteristics: (a) displays a compact andbushy growth habit, (b) forms in abundance over a long blooming seasonattractive bicolored blossoms having a pale pink and yellow coloration,(c) displays vigorous large bright green leaves, (d) displays a tendencyto vigorously regrow following pruning, and (e) is well suited forproviding attractive ornamentation; substantially as illustrated anddescribed.